Bengaluru: Chief Election Commissioner of the Central Election Commission Rajeev Kumar has said that the “money power” in Karnataka is a matter of great concern for us.
The officials have been strictly instructed not to wait for the ‘muhurat’ to curb the distribution of free gifts and electoral allurements.
“The biggest challenge before us is to curb narrative and opinions on social media,” he said.
He was on a three-day visit to the State to review election preparations and addressed a press conference at Vikasa Soudha here. “The Commission is concerned about the apathy of urban voters and young voters,” he said and added strict action will be taken to curb fake rumours on social media.
“In order to curb the menace of money laundering, cash in ATM machines will be prohibited from 5.00 pm to 10.00 am. All banks have been asked to keep a watch on suspicious transactions. If there is an increase in the quantity of items of common use, including the electronic devices that normally come to the State from another, they will be checked. Financial transactions of the modern electronic method will also be monitored,” he said.
“Strict directions have been issued to agencies including State Police, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, State GST Division, Central GST Division, Coast Guard, Enforecement Directorate, Airport, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to enforce the model code of conduct to curb “money power” that may influence the elections. Instructions have already been issued to keep a close watch on illegal and irregular free gifts as well as the use and inflow of money and to ensure that they are not allowed,” he said.
